How to Protect Your RFID Enabled Passport Cincinnati OH

Since 2006, the United States has started issuing passports with an RFID chip in them. European and select other countries had them longer. The problem is that your personal data can get read from your passport at a distance, without anyone ever opening, touching, or even coming close to your passport.

Local Companies

Diana Tours
(513) 861-2731
3939 Vine Vista Place
Cincinnati, OH
Victoria Travel
(513) 871-1100
3330 Erie Avenue
Cincinnati, OH
Know Travel
(513) 731-4204
6422 Iris Avenue
Cincinnati, OH
The Travel Authority ~ Cindy Berre
513-645-1754
6800 Wooster Pike
Cincinnati, OH
Cindy Berre Travel
513-645-1754
The Travel Authority
Cincinnati, OH
Wayfarer Travel Service Inc.
(513) 271-4637
7140 Miami Avenue
Cincinnati, OH
Prestige Travel Inc.
(513) 793-6586
9859 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH
Smartravel
(513) 936-2300
4280 Glendale Milford Rd.
Blue Ash, OH
Provident Travel Corp.
(513) 247-1100
11309 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH
Residence Inn by Marriott Cincinnati North/West Chester
513-874-2407
6240 Muhlhauser Road
West Chester, OH

 

Provided By:

Steps

  1. Determine if your passport has an RFID chip in it. If on the cover there is a rectangle with a circle and a line through it, then it definitely contains an RFID chip and can be read from a distance.
  2. Decide if you want to merely be passively cautious, actively protect your data, or permanently disable the RFID chip in your passport.
  3. If you want to be cautious:
    • The passport cover will provide some shielding to the RFID chip inside. However, it does no good if it is open.
    • If you carry your passport around loosely in your purse, make sure you store it so that it is closed. Even a slightly opened passport increases the ability to have its chip read.
    • When carrying your passport in your pocket, make sure it is closed
  4. If you want to actively protect our data:
    • Get a shielded case for your passport and use it actively whenever you travel with your passport
    • Alternatively, you can wrap your passport in aluminum foil. This works just fine, but is not convenient and quite unsightly
  5. If you want to disable it permanently:
    • Microwave your passport for a couple seconds - this will fry the chip.
    • If you can determine exactly where the chip is, a sharp blow of a hammer will disable it

Tips

  • RFID Shielding Products:
  • http://www.emvelope.com/products/show/7
  • http://www.rfid-shield.com/
  • http://www.magellans.com/store/New_Products___Fall_2008___Travel_EssentialsLB192?Args=
  • http://www.passport-stronghold.com/products.html

Warnings

  • Physically damaging your passport is probably against the law of the country that issued it. While it will be close to impossible to determine whether or not you intentionally defaced your passport, you should bear this in mind.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Protect Your RFID Enabled Passport. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Featured Local Company

Diana Tours

(513) 861-2731
3939 Vine Vista Place
Cincinnati, OH

Related Local Events
Cincinnati Travel Sports & Boat Show
Dates: 1/16/2010 - 1/18/2010
Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
View Details

Latin Culture Fest
Dates: 11/21/2009 - 11/22/2009
Location: Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
Cincinnati, OH
View Details

Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market
Dates: 11/11/2009 - 11/13/2009
Location: Duke Energy Convention Center
Cincinnati, OH
View Details

Hearthwarming Holiday
Dates: 11/6/2009 - 11/8/2009
Location: Historic Business District
Waynesville, OH
View Details

Trouble At The Tropicabana
Dates: 10/23/2009 - 10/23/2009
Location: The Greenwich
Cincinnati, OH
View Details